Videos

U.S. Marine Corps Recruits with Bravo Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, conduct Water Survival training on Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C., Sep. 2, 2025. After a period of coaching, recruits must demonstrate their proficiency in the water in order to progress to the next part of recruit training. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Lance Cpl. Katrina Wallace)

U.S. Marine Corps Recruits with Bravo Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, conduct Water Survival training on Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C., Sep. 2, 2025. After a period of coaching, recruits must demonstrate their proficiency in the water in order to progress to the next part of recruit training. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Lance Cpl. Katrina Wallace)

U.S. Marines assigned to Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C., complete the Marine Corps Instructor of Water Survival course on the depot, August 30, 2024. The three-week course trains Marines in lifeguarding, first aid, water survival and water rescues. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Lance Cpl. Katrina Wallace)

Recruits with Golf Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, go through Marine Corps Water Survival training aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C., March 19, 2024. After some practice time, recruits are tested on their ability to jump into deep water, tread water, float, transport gear and to shed their gear underwater. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Lance Cpl. Katrina Wallace)

Recruits with Golf Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, go through Marine Corps Water Survival training aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C., March 19, 2024. After some practice time, recruits are tested on their ability to jump into deep water, tread water, float, transport gear and to shed their gear underwater. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Lance Cpl. Katrina Wallace)

U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Brock Portier, a Marine Corps Instructor of Water Survival on Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C., describes Marine Corps Combat Water Survival, July 24, 2023. All recruits are required to complete swim qualification in order to graduate from recruit training. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Lance Cpl. Noelia Vazquez)

U.S. Marine Corps recruits with Alpha Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, and Oscar Company, 4th Recruit Training Battalion, complete their swim qualification May 23, 2018, on Parris Island, S.C. U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Robert Perez, a Marine Combat Instructor of Water Survival, Support Battalion, discussed the importance of water survival skills. Swim qualification includes a 25-meter swim, leaping into the water from a tower, treading water and quickly shedding combat equipment while underwater. (U.S. Marine Corps motion imagery by Cpl. Jordan Canney and Lance Cpl. Aglahe Garcia/Released)

Recruits of Delta Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, learned the fundamentals of water survival Jan. 4, 2017, on Parris Island, S.C. Recruits must demonstrate their abilities to survive in the water while in uniform in order to graduate. Delta Company is scheduled to graduate March 3, 2017. (Video by Lance Cpl. Aaron Bolser)

Recruits of Kilo Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, and Oscar Company, 4th Recruit Training Battalion, jumped into swim qualification Nov. 21, 2016, on Parris Island, S.C. Recruits must prove their abilities to survive in the water using only issued uniforms and gear. Both companies are scheduled to graduate Jan. 20, 2017. (Video by Lance Cpl. Aaron Bolser)

U.S. Marines conduct training to become Marine Combat Instructors of Water Survival (MCIWS) at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C. MCIWS training is a 5-week course where students learn rescue swimming, life-saving procedures, and water survival techniques. (U.S. Marine Corps motion imagery by Cpl. Scott P. Smolinski/Released)